Oscar-winning French composer Michel Legrand dies at 86: Videos, Photos

Michel Legrand has died at the age of 86, his publicist has confirmed.

The French composer, a good friend of our website, who won his first Oscar for his work on The Thomas Crown Affair in 1969, passed away in his hometown of Paris.

Michel had been planning to throw concerts in the French capital in April, but sadly died before he got the chance to once more inspire his audiences.

The talented musician won three Oscars in total, the first for the song The Windmills of Your Mind in The Thomas Crown Affair.

He went on to bag his second Best Original Score gong in 1971 for Summer Of ’42, and the third followed in 1983 for Yentl.

The composer also won five Grammys in the 1970s, including Best Instrumental Composition in 1972, 1973 and 1976.

Michel’s career spanned more than 50 years and he wrote over 200 scores for film and TV throughout his life.

He was best known for tinging his music with jazz and was first introduced to Hollywood after collaborating with French new wave director Jacques Demy on The Umbrellas of Cherbourg in the 1960s.

He worked with some big names over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Orson Welles and Edith Piaf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stvlkOmaLeM

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